Increasing Adoption of Sheltered Dogs through the Use of Certified Dog Trainers

Shelter Pet Alliance is working on a program to increase adoptions of sheltered dogs by providing shelters in need with professional trainers.

Through our years working with shelters, we have discovered that a large number of dogs adopted out are quickly returned due to behavior problems.  Some of these problems were pre-existing and may have contributed to the dog being brought to the shelter by its previous owner.  Other problems often develop within the shelter environment.  Whether it is jumping up, nipping, pulling on the leash, chewing, excessive barking or just disobedience in general, these behaviors can make it very difficult for families to incorporate a new dog into their lives.  A pet should have a positive impact on a family and not be a constant source of worry.   By providing shelter dogs with a consistent source of training, we are allowing them a much higher chance of finding a family and staying with them permanently. 

We would like to have the trainer commit a minimum of three hours per week per shelter to this program.  Our vision is that the trainer will provide three different types of help.  One hour will be spent holding group-training sessions for shelter volunteers and families who recently adopted from that shelter.  This session would provide behavior modification techniques and basic training tips.  The second hour would be spent working one on one with the more problematic dogs at the shelter. The final hour would be put aside for visiting homes of new owners and helping them overcome the negative issues which have arisen since their adoption.

We believe that every family, especially those with children could benefit from owning a pet. By having an animal to care for, children are taught responsibility, empathy and respect for all living creatures.   Through our training program, we could turn many of the “unadoptable” dogs at the shelters into wonderful family pets.  If the dogs at the shelters were better behaved, people would be more likely to turn to shelters for adoption.  There are millions of homeless dogs in shelters in the United States who need homes.  Shelter Pet Alliance would like to give them a chance to leave their isolated life in a cage for a life of happiness, love and companionship.